Apparatus for bending tubular lamps



Aug. ,25, 1953 J. F. OCHWAT 2,649,660

APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBULAR LAMPS Filed Aug. 14, 1951 2 SheetsSheet 1 Inven tcir: Joseph F. Ochwert',

- 6 His A=b=tovneg Aug. 25, 1953 J. F. OCHWAT v APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBULAR LAMPS 2 Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1951 I 7 Joseph ochwa t,

His fovney.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED PATENT OFFICE erremrus TUBULAR JosephE." Ochwat, Garfield Heights, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNewYor-k Appl cati n Au t 1. Ser al 41,85

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to-apparatus-ior reshape ing straight tubularlamps into'circularor other curvilinear form, and more-particularlyto-autoe matically operated apparatus for effectingthe heating and bending-'operations.--

My invention-provides an-improvedlamp bend-. ing apparatus wherein the lamp is heated and bent during the course-of the-passage through a succession of work-stations and is an improvement of the apparatus, in one respect, disclosed in Patent 2,494,923, Yoderetal. dated January 17, 1950, and-assignedto assignee of the present invention. Heretoforeboth. the manner and speed of operation of the-bending-apparatus have been restricted bythe-necessity of: effecting the final heating step, the bending stepand a cooling step at one work station, since-eachof'these steps must follow oneafter the otherwithout-inters ruption. The time-interval required for the three steps is greater than any othergroup of opera tions performed by the apparatus at any other work station and is therefore controlling as to the speed of operation of the apparatus.

One object of my invention is to provide lamp heating andbending apparatus adapted-to higher speeds of operation thanpossible heretofore by causing at least a part ofthe final heating of the lamp to occur during the -movement thereof to operative relation to the-bending means so that the lamp need remain at operative-relation to the bending means for a shorter interval.-

Another object of my invention is-to provide lamp reshaping apparatus having provision for efiecting the final heating ofa lampat-two successive work stations and during the indexing movement thereof between said stations so-as to advance and extend the operations thereof still further and enables. still further increase'in the speed of operation thereof Still another object of my invention is to provide lamp reforming apparatus adapted to function with a multiple station lamp carrier and having heating means and gontrol elements for said heatin means and'the reforming means movable between two successive work stations along the carrier. The movable nature of the heating means and the control elementspermits them to retain a continuous operative relation to the lamp during the final heating period and contributes to better control of the heating operation and to high speeds of operation in that it allows the final heating period to be almost completely contained withinthe first of the two work stations and during the'indexing movement therebetween.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention an oven is made movable between two successive work stations of an indexed lamp carrier to provide an uninterrupted heating period for the lampat said stations and during passage thereof between said stations. Means are also provided in combination with the oven for retracting it away from the second station and the lamp on completion of the heatin cycle and for then returning it to the first station to start the next cycle of operation. The extent to which the lamp, which is suspended from the carrier, is heated, is controlled by means engaging the lower end thereof and displaced downwardly when the lamp is heated sufiiciently to stretch by its own weight. In the embodiment illustrated herein the control means is a movable element oscillating between the two heating stations and, for convenience, is combined with the oven moving between these stations.

Still other features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of a species thereof and from the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of approximately one half of a fluorescent lamp making machine having a plurality of lamp carrying heads about a turret type carrier and having a portion of said turret broken therefrom to show the heating and control means comprising my invention located at two of the work stations thereabout; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the lamp making machine including the heating, and control means comprising my invention and which View is taken from a position to .one side of the center portion of the lamp making machine and shows a portion of the frame and the turret indexing spider and a succession of three'heads of the lamp carrier; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the heating and control means, and adjacent portions of the frame, the indexing spider and the main driving shaft of the lamp making machine at the moment of the first arrangement of the heating and control mechanisms at the second of the two Work stations associated with its operation; and Fig 4 is a corresponding elevation on a slightly larger scale of the control means, the means in this instance being arranged at the position it assumes after initiation of the lamp forming operation.

In the embodiment of my invention which appears in the drawing the heating and control mechanisms are mounted on the frame I of the machine at two'adjacent work stations, A and B at the periphery thereof. The apparatus is designed to operate effectively with single tubular lamps 2 suspended from each of a succession of heads 3 at regular intervals about a turret 4 and to perform its operative function on each lamp 2 advanced to work stations A and B by a succession of counter clockwise indexing movements of said turret 3.

The improved mechanism is shown as a modifi cation of the heating and bending means occupying two work stations of the machine disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,494,923 Yoder et al.,'

and is so positioned in said machine as to receive at station A a preheated lamp 2, advanced from the oven located at the immediately preceding work stations, and as to allow the lamp 2 to be immediately reformed by the means 5 (only par so that their operation is timed to the entire machine as disclosed in Patent 2,494,923.

1. Upon initiation of the rolling or forming func- 'tion of the machine the control pin 9 is no longer tially shown) located at station B. Y I

Now referring generally to the cycle of opera tion which is initiated with the apparatus arranged to operate with a lamp 2 (Figs. 1 and 2) advanced into station A in a vertical position, the upper end being suspended from a holder 7 of a head 3 located at the periphery of the turret 4 of the machine. The directly occurring operations of the apparatus cause the positioning means 8 to centralize the lower end of said lamp 2 over the pin 9 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the control means (shown at station B but at that time located at station A) and cause the upward movement of said pin 9 into engagement with the lower end of the lamp 2. After the pin 9 is properly seated against the lamp 2, the positioning means is no longer required to hold the lamp 2 in place and is accordingly separated therefrom whereupon the oven I0, then located directly in toward the center of the machine, is moved radially outward to a position around the lamp 2. The heating function of the oven III is the only operation which occurs in the next interval of operation of the apparatus and is continued during the said interval which also finds the entire assembly in operative relation with the lamp 2 being indexed to work station B.

During the aforesaid intervals in which the oven Ill and the lamp 2 are operatively arranged at station A and are being indexed to station B, the oven It increases the temperature of the lamp 2 to substantially the softening or working point of its glass envelope so the reforming of said lamp 2, the next step in the operation of the apparatus, can occur almost immediately. The manner of operation provided by the apparatus avoids the cooling period usually occurring during the indexing interval and the need for reintroducing into the lamp 2 while it is at station B that heat lost during said interval. Inasmuch as the operations occurring at station B are the limiting factor in the speed of operation of the machine, the lessening of the heating interval of the lamp 2 at said station permits faster speeds of operation of the entire machine.

lhe proper working temperature of the lamp 2, as in the Yoder et al. Patent 2,494,923 hereinbefore referred to, is determined by an elongation or sagging of said lamp 2 against the very slight resistance of the pin 9 of the control means, and lowers said pin 9 to a position where said control means triggers the retraction of the oven ID to a position inward toward the center of the machine and the advance of the reforming means 6 to operative relation to said lamp 2. The immediately following operations of the machine are operations of the forming means 6, which in the course of its operation provides for the rolling of the lamp 2 onto the form or drum II, and are needed to support the lamp 2 so it is pulled down toazposition clear of the lamp 2. After this latter operation has'been' completed, the control pin 9, which thenappears as in Fig. 4, and the oven "I9fwh'ich has then reached its fully retracted position, are returned to station A in preparation for a succeeding cycle of operation in the manner already described generally.

I will now refer to the details of the apparatus in the order of operation upon the lamp 2 and in particular to the lamp positioning means 8. The lamp positioning means 8 has the function of aligning the lamp 2 vertically at station A to cause the lower end thereof to be in position to receive the end of the control pin 9 and effects the alignment of said lamp 2 by closing the jaws I2 and i3 upon the lower end portion thereof. The jaws I2 and I3 are mounted upon shafts I4 and I5 journalled in fixed standard I6 on the frame I of the machine and upon closing, cause the fiat refractory face I? of the jaw I2 to press the lamp 2 into the base of the V notch in the refractory face It of the jaw I3.

The operation of the positioning means 8 is not initiated immediately upon the advance of the lamp 2 to station A since'the control pin 9 is then located at station 13; however, it follows very soon thereafter when said control pin 9 is returned to station A. At that time, the saddle I9 which indirectly supports the control pin 9 shifts from station B to A and in so doing is brought into engagement with theactuating arm of a totally enclosed switch 29 located upon the frame I of the machine. Said switch 29 effects the completion of an electrical circuit to the driving motor 2I of the lamp positioning means 8. The drivin motor 2i, which is mounted on the lower surface of the frame I of the machine, transmits motion to the spur gear 22 adjacent the upper surface of said frame I through the right angle drive of a speed reducer (not shown) integral therewith. The gear 22, in -turn, i s the driving force for rotating a spur gear 23 and effects the closing movement in the jaw I2 by turning said gear 23 one half of a revolution so that the crank pin 24 extending from an off-center position thereon and the connected link25 and arm 26 produce the required degree of rotation in the jaw supporting shaft I4. The jaw I3 is also turned correspondingly in the opposite direction by the motion of the shaft I 4 because the gear 2'! drives a duplicate gear (not shown) on the supporting shaft I5 for said jaw I3 The lamp positioning means 8 is only required to hold the lamp 2 at the correct position for an instant as thecontrol pin 9 is caused to rise and seat against the lower end of the lamp 2 at approximately the same moment the jaws I2 and I3 of the positioning means 8 reach the limit of their closing movement. Accordingly, the jaws I2 and I3 are immediately withdrawn to their openposition, an"operation which occurs with the continued operation of the driving motor 2i and the second half rotation of the'gear 23." On completion of the opening movement of the jaws l2 and I3, operation-"of the driving motor is stopped by the advance-oradifferently shaped portion of the cam 23; located-on the lower end of the shaft 29 supporting the gear- 23, into engagement with the actuating lever of the enclosed switch 30 and the interruption of the electrical circuit to said drive motor '2 l' by said switch 30. Although thisoperation completes the functions of the lamp positioning means 8, the cycle of operation thereof continue as the actuation of the switchv 30 places in operation an electrical timer (not shown) for bridging its contacts for a short interval later in the operation of the machine so that switch" 2ll'carr'again'effectoperation of said means 8.

The upward movement of the control pin 9 which occurs midway in the operation of the lamp positioning means 8 is effected by the rotation of a projecting portion of the cam 32 on the shaft 29 of said means 8' into engagement with the actuating arm of the switch 33. At that time, the control pin Si, which is hinged upon the lever 34 and the arm 35 extending from the post 36 on the saddle i9, is located directly over a ram 3'! extending upward through an opening in the frame i of the machine from the hydraulic cylinder 38; and the switch 33 closes an electrical circuit to the solenoid valve 39 which causes air from a pipe source 30 to be introduced through pipe ll to the bottom of the cylinder 38 so that the ram 31 and the control pin 9 are forced upward. The pressure applied to the ram 3? is sufficient to move it against the action of a return spring (not shown) within the cylinder 38 and to cause rollers 42 on opposite sides of the support lever 35 to press against the projections 53 on the latch lid with force enough to tilt said latch Mi back out of the way. The almost immediate passage of the projecting portion of the cam 32 from engagement with switch 33 allows the expansion force of the spring within the cylinder 38 to again return the ram 31 to its lower position. Upon completion of the upward movement of the control pin 9 the rollers 42 are located between the intermediate projection 43 and the top projections 45 of the latch 44, and the latch 44 is rocked back into position by the influence of the weighted end 16 thereof which turns it about the pin 51 projecting from the support bracket it on the saddle H9. The top projections 45 on the latch 14 are for the purpose of preventing the support lever 36 for the control pin 9 from swinging up beyond the limits :of movement thereof; whereas, the intermediate projections 33 hold said lever 34 and the control pin 9 at a lower position during the prior moments of the operation when said control pin 9 is being brought under the lamp 2.

The engagement of the control pin 9 with the lamp 2, places the lamp under the very slight upward pressure of said control pin 9 resulting from the position of the counterweight 56 on the lever 33 and causes the switch 5| whichis mounted over said lever 34 on a bracket 52 extending from the saddle 19 to be actuated through the engagement of the actuating lever thereof with the lever 34. This switching action initiates the next step in the cycle of operation of the apparatus by completing .a circuit to the electric motor 53 located upon a bracket 54 at the inner'end of the saddle i9 andcauses the motor 53 to advanceithe .oven It fromapositionrelatively near the-center of the machine into heating relation to the lamp 2'at station-A.

Opening and closing movementof the oven ID are also brought about'during the advance thereof since said oven III-is comprised-of halves I0 and It" which must be momentarily separated from each other in order to be brought around the lamp 2. The oven halves l0 and it" are correspondingly mounted on vertical shafts 55 and 55 at the forward edgeof a'carriage 56 by means of the brackets 51' and 58 which engage upper portions and the bottoms thereof and are advanced toward station A by movement of the carriage 56 in the saddle l.9.- Rollers 59 and 60 at each of the four corners of the carriage 55 mount said carriage 56 in the slide ways defined by the channelled side portions of the saddle I9; whereas, a fixed cam 6| on the center portion of the saddle iii and engaged by corresponding arms 52 extending from the shafts 55 and 55 determines the open or closed position of the oven halves it and it.

The driving force of the electric motor 53 is caused to operate the oven 10 by being transferred through the pulleys 63 and 64 and the belt 65 to the speed reducer 66 and having the rotary motion of the shaft 61 of said speed reducer 66 swing the crank 68 so that the carriage 56 is shifted in the saddle l9 by the link 69 and bracket 10 which connect it thereto. During the first part of the advance of the carriage 56, rollers (not shown) on the extending ends of the arms 62 pass from widely spaced portions of the tracks H and H in the cam 6|, which cause said arms 62 to hold the oven halves l0 and It" together, to more closely spaced portions thereof, which cause said arms 62 to hold the oven halves l0 and I0" in spaced relation. The closing movement of the oven halves l0 and ill results when a second more widely spaced portion of the tracks H and H is engaged at the furthest advance of the carriage 56. The oven i0 is completely closed about the lamp 2 at the limit of the advance of the carriage 56 which is reached at the time the circuit to the motor 53 is interrupted by the rotation of a projecting portion of the cam 12 on the speed reducer shaft 6'1 into engagement with the operating arm of the switch 13. 1

The lamp 2 absorbs the heat of the oven ID in the next few moments of the cycle of operation of the machine and increases in temperature to almost the working point when it, the oven I0 and the control pin 9, which is in engagement with the lower end of said lamp 2, are indexed to station B by the next occurring operation of the machine. The timed relation of the index is not a function of the apparatus located at station A and has no relation to the heating period provided for the lamp 2 at said station inasmuch as it is a function of the main driving means whichis timed to the functions of the apparatus at work station B as disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,494,923. The index occurs when the main drive shaft 15, which also has an intermittent cycle of operation, turns the cam 16 to an extent to bring the offset portion 11 thereof between two of'the rollers 18 on a spider 19 connected through the center column of the machine to the turret 4. The lead of the offset portion 11 of the cam 16 pulls the rollers i8. and, accordingly, the spider I9 and the turret A, to one sidewa distance to'effect the index thereof. Continuing rotation of the shaft -15 advances the flat main portion of the 'cam 16 again to a position adjacent said spider 19 and causes it to pass between the adjacent pair of rollers 18 so that the spider 19 and the turret 4 are held at a definite position.

The motion of the oven H] and the control pin 9 is taken from that of the turret 4 and it assures proper maintenance of the lamp 2 and said oven l and control pin 9 at operative relation to each other at all times and is brought about by indirectly locking the saddle [9 to the spider 19 for the period of the indexing motion. The lock is eifected by the engagement of the forked end of a slide 8|, located below the frame I of the machine at a position opposite the periphery of the spider 19, with one of the rollers 82 on the pins supporting alternate rollers 18 and is maintained for the period a projecting portion of the cam 83 on the main drive shaft 15 is in engagement with the acutatin lever of the switch 84. The slide 8| is held in ways of a block 85 attached by the bracket 86 to a bar 8! extending down from one side of the saddle |9 (the support means for the oven NJ and the control pin 9) and causes the saddle I9 to be moved along the curved rails 88 and 89. Corresponding rollers (not shown) mounted below the side portions of the saddle I9 ride in the opposed channels 90 in the rails 88 and 89 and define the path of movement of said saddle |9.

The locking motion of the slide 8|, which is connected to the air cylinder 9|, is produced by a circuit completing function of the switch 84 whereby compressed air is introduced in one end of the cylinder 9| through the flexible hose 92 andunder control of the electrical valve 93. At a later moment in the operation of the ma.-

chine when the oven l0 and the control pin 9 are returned to station A; the saddle I9 is unlocked from the spider 19 by thepassage of the projecting portion'of the cam 83 from a position opposite the switch 84. At such times, the actuation of the switch 84 changes the circuit connections to the electrical valve 94 so that compressed air is conducted through said valve 94 and the-flexible hose 95 to the end of the cylinder 9|. Valve 93 at such times vents the cylinder 9| so that it is free to retract the forked slide 8| from'around the roller 82.

The temperature of the ovens and I0 is so controlled that-the lamp 2 is heated to a workable condition almost immediately on reaching station B since any reduction in the time required for the operations at this station shortens the index interval of the machine as a whole and increases the speed thereof. The time expended at station B'to bring the lamp 2 to a working condition depends somewhat on the mass etc. of the specific lamp 2; however, it is always much less than in prior apparatus since the lamp 2 is gaining heat rather than losing it during the index.

As in prior apparatus, the lamp 2 elongates or sags when it reaches a workable temperature and thereby pushes the control pin 9 down to a position to cause the oven II] to be retracted from operative relation thereto, and to also cause bending means like that disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,494,923 to start its cycle tate in a direction which pulls the oven l0 further under the turret 4 and out of operative relation to the lamp 2. The limit of the retraction of the oven |ll occurs when a difference in the shape of the edge of a second cam 96 on the shaft 6'! of the speed reducer 66 driven by the motor 53 actuates the switch 91 in a manner to break the circuit to said motor 53. The downward movement of the control pin 9 also breaks the previously referred to circuit through the switch 5| which initiated the forward movement of the oven N). This previously referred to circuit was rendered inoperative because of the position of the first switch 13 adjacent the speed reducer 66 but is again made operative by the rotation of the cam 12 and the actuation of switch 91 by the retraction motion in the speed reducer 6B.

The retraction of the oven l0 from the area of the lamp 2 clears said area for the operation of the lamp bending means of the machine and, as shown in detail in the aforesaid Patent 2,494,- 923, initiates the operation thereof. Further operations of the improved mechanisms comprising my invention occur almost immediately after the operation of the bending means as said means then brings the form II and associated means (not shown) into operative relation to the lamp 2 and thereby eliminates any further need for the control pin 9 against the bottom end of the lamp 2. Th control pin 9 has remained at a supporting position determined by the resting of the rollers 42 on the intermediate projections 43 on the latch 44 from the time it was lowered by the sagging of the lamp 2 and is now lowered still further to a position clear of the end of said lamp 2. This latter lowering movement is also a function of the bending apparatus and is effected electrically by the momentary making of a circuit, in this particular instance operating the air valve 98. The air valve 98 controls the passage of compressed air to, and the venting of, a cylinder 99 located below the frame I of the machine at station B and causes the cylinder 99 to lower the rod I99 extending upward through said frame I to an arm |fl| lying over the arm 35 of the control pin support means. The downward motion of the rod I and arm |0| brings the roller I92 on the latter against the arm 35 and applies sufficient pressure to cause the rollers 42 on the support lever 34 to force the projections 43 and, accordingly, the latch 42, back out of the way. When the control circuit to the air valve 98. is broken, said valve 98 change the connections to the cylinder 99 so that the cylinder 99 again raises the rod I99 and arm ||l| to its former position. This latter operation does not alter the position of the control pin 9 as the rollers 42 are now located below the intermediate projections 43 on the latch 44 and, accordingly, are held in the lower position.

The next operation of the apparatus is the return movement of the oven l0 and control pin 9 to station A effected by the shifting of the support saddle I9 therefor laterally along the rails 88 and 89 and is initiated by the circuit made through the switch I03 when the control pin 9 strikes the actuating button I04 thereof at the limit of its downward motion. The switch 33 momentarily bridges the circuit about the switch 15 of the saddle shifting means located still further around the machine from station B which switch N15 is connected in a control circuit for the motor |06 of said means. The saddle i9 is moved by the pressure of a connecting rod I87 against the far side thereof when the crank I08 on the speed reducer I09 travels toward said switch "I 35.

opal-9,660

the belt I H] and the pulleys H I and H2.- aAt this time, the pin 1 l3 on the end of thecrank I08 is vlocated at the end of the slot H4 in the connecting rod Ill! and transfers the motion of the end of the crank Hi8 directly to said rodllll and the saddle l9. After 180 of rotation of the shaft of the speed reducer J09 thecrank pin H3 reverses its direction of movement and is carried back in the slot-H4 of the connecting rod Hll without efiecting any movement in said connecting rod in! or the saddle 19. Finally after a full rotation of the crank till}, the motor I06 is stopped by the advance of a projecting portion of the cam H on the driving shaft of the speed reducer I09 into engagement with the actuating arm of the switch 405 and the interruption of the circuit to-said motor 1% by said The slot [It in the-connecting rod Ill! also allows the saddle 19 to be moved back to station B without interference from the crank pin H3 in-the next succeeding cycle of operation of the apparatus. The continuing operation of the machine in the manner of. the. cycle just described and th periodic rotation 'of'the main drive shaft 15 under the control of the operation takin place at work station E as described in "the aforesaid Patent 2,494,923 automatically initiate suoceeding'oycles'of operatio like that just described.

A preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed. However, it will-be-understood that the invention is-not to. be limited to the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that they maybe Widely modified within the spirit and scope of :my invention as definedby the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters :Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for heating and bending a tubular :lamp comprising ahead for-suspending the lamp in a vertical position, a carrier for advancing the head to a plurality of work stations in turn, heating means located below the head and mounted for movement therewith to one of "the work stations for heating the lamp to ayplastic condition, meansmounted permanentlyat, said one work stat-ion "forbendi-ng the lamp to a desired configuration, control means including a vertically movable member located below the head in a position totengage the lower :end of the lamp and mountedforwmovement therewith from the preceding station to said one work station, said control means including further means operable upon downward displacement of said movable member for effecting operation of the bending means at said one station when the lamp is heated sufficiently to sag and displace said control means downward, means also operable upon the said downward displacement of said movable member to effect return of the said movable member to said preceding station during operation of said bending means, and means for operating the aforesaid means in proper synchronization.

2. Apparatus for heating and bending a tubular lamp comprising a head for suspending the lamp in a vertical position, a carrier for advancing the head to a plurality of work stations in turn, means located below the head and movable therewith to one of the work stations from the preceding station for heating the lamp to a workable condition, means mounted permanently at said one work station for bending the lamp to a de- .sired configuration, control means including a vertically movable "member located below the head in a position to engage the lower end of the lamp and mountedfor movement therewith from the preceding station'to-said one work station; said control means including further means operable upondownward displacement of said movable member for effecting operation of the bending means at said one station when the lamp is heated sufficiently to sag-and displace said control meansdownward, common support means for the heating means andthe movable member and -mounted-for reciprocating movement along the path o-ftravel of the head between said one station and the preceding station, means also operable upon the said downward displacement of said-movablemember to effect return: of .theheating means and the movable member to said preceding station during operationof said bending means, and means -for operating the aforesaid means in proper synchronization.

- 3. Apparatus for-heating andbending a tubular lamp comprisin .a head for suspending the lamp in a vertical position,.a carrier foradvancing the headto a plurality-of-work stations in turn, heating means located below the head at one of said work stations for heating the lamp, means mounted permanently at said one work station for bending the lamp to a desired configuration, control means including. a vertically movable member located below the head in a positionflto engage the lower end of the lamp and mounted for movement between the said one workstation and the preceding work station, said control means including further means operable upon downward displacement of said movable member work station for raising the said movable member of the control means to a position engageable with a lamp thereat,: and means for operating the aforesaid means inproper synchronization.

,4.--Apparatus, forheating and bending a tubular lamp comprising a head for suspending thelamp in a vertical-position, a carrier for .advancing :the head to a :plurality of work stations in turn, heating means located below the head at one of said work stations for heating the lamp, means at said one work station for bending the lamp to a desired configuration, control means including a vertically movable member located below the head in a position to engage the lower end of the lamp and mounted for movement between the said one work station and the preced-- ing work station for efiecting operation of the bending means when the lamp is heated sufficiently to sag and displace said control means downward, means at the said one work station for lowering the said movable member of the control means clear of the lamp, latching means for holding the said movable member in the fully lowered position during the return to the said preceding work station, means at said preceding work station for effecting the release of the latching means and for raising the said movable member of the control means to a position engageable with a lamp thereat, and means for operating the aforesaid means in proper synchronization.

11' 5. Apparatus for heating and bending a tubular lamp comprising a head for suspending the lamp in a vertical position, a carrier for advancing the head to a plurality of work stations in turn, heating means located below the head at one of said work stations for heating the lamp, means at the said one work station for bending the lamp to a desired configuration, control means for efiecting operation of the bending means when the lamp is heated sufiiciently to be workable and sag comprising a pin adapted to seat against. the lower end of the lamp, counter balanced means mounting the pin for vertical movement, a releasable stop for limiting the free downward movement of the pin and thereby preventing excessive sag in the lamp and means mounted for actuation by the counter balanced means upon depression of the pin to its limit of movement for controlling the bending means, means at the said one work station for lowering the pin of the control means clear of the lamp and below the limit established by the releasable stop, means at the work station preceding said one work station for raising the said pin to a position engageable with a lamp thereat, and means for operating the aforesaid means in proper synchronization.

6. Apparatus for heating and bending a tubular lamp comprising a head for suspending the lamp in a vertical position, a carrier for advancing the head to a plurality of work stations in turn, an oven mounted for movement to and from an operative relation to the head and to a retracted position adjacent thereto for heating the lamp, support means for the oven mounted for movement between positions at adjacent work stations, means for moving the support means from the first to the second of said work stations to cause the oven to be retained in heating relation to the lamp during its dwell at said stations and during the movement therebetween, means at the second of the said adjacent work stations for bending the lamp to a desired configuration, control means including a vertically movablemember mounted on the support means in a position to engage the lower end of the lamp for effecting retraction of the oven and operation of the bending means whenthe lamp is heated sufficiently to sag and thereby displace said control means downward, means at the said second work station for lowering the said movable member of the control means clear of the lamp, means for returning the support means to the first of said adjacent work stations, means at said first work station for raising the said movable member of the control means to a position to engage a lamp thereat, and means actuated by the movement of said movable member to its upper position to cause the oven to be moved to an operative position at said work station.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads for suspending tubular lamps in a vertical position, means for indexing said carrier to carry the heads by steps along a given path of travel to a plurality of work stations, a preheating oven extending along several work stations and surrounding the path of travel of lamps in said head through said stations, a pair of work stations beyond said oven, means mounted permanently at the second one of said pair of stations for bending the lamp to a desired configuration, an individual oven adapted to enclose a single lamp, means mounting said oven for reciprocation between said pair of stations, control means including a vertically movable member engageable with the lower end of a lamp at the first one of said pair of stations, means mounting said movable member for movement with the lamp and the individual oven from said first station to said second station, said control means including means operable upon downward displacement of said movable member to effect operation of the bending means when the lamp at said second station is heated suificiently to sag and displace said movable membenand means also operable upon the said downward displacement of said movable member to efiect return of said individual oven to said first station during operation of said bending means.

JOSEPH F. OCI-IWAT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,949,901 Cosh Mar. 6, 1934 2,110,327 Dichter Mar. 8, 1938 2,270,152 Themak Jan. 13, 1942 2,494,872 Greiner et al. Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 852,138 France Jan. 24, 1940 

